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מִסְפּוֹא

𐤌𐤎𐤐𐤅𐤀

miçpôwʼ

H4554 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ספא to gather, collect, store

Definition

Dry fodder for domestic animals, particularly hay or straw used as feed. The term primarily denotes plant material gathered or collected for the purpose of feeding livestock, especially in times or contexts where grazing pasture is insufficient or unavailable. It often refers to feed that has been cut, dried, and stored, as distinct from fresh grazing or other forms of animal food. In some contexts, it can serve as a general term for animal provender, but the primary focus is on dried plant matter suitable for animal consumption.

Semantic Range

dried plant fodder for animals, hay, straw, provender, gathered feed

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: The word appears to derive from a root similar to סָפָה (safah, 'to gather, collect'), although no direct verbal root is attested in Biblical Hebrew (thus, 'from an unused root'). The form מִסְפּוֹא utilizes the standard nominal prefix מִ– indicating instrumentality or result, meaning 'that which is gathered' or 'what is provided as fodder.' The etymological connection is based on root similarity and the semantic field of gathering or collecting, but without a clearly attested verb, the derivation remains somewhat conjectural.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historical & Contextual Notes: מִסְפּוֹא is a relatively rare term in the Hebrew Bible, found primarily in narrative descriptions involving the care and provisioning of animals, such as the preparation for journeys or the management of livestock. Its principal attestation is in later Israelite narrative, notably in the Joseph story (Genesis 24:25,32; 43:24), where it designates food dedicated for animals accompanying humans on travel. It is distinct from other terms such as דֶּשֶׁא (deshe', 'grass, herbage') or חָצִיר (chatsir, 'green grass'), which typically designate fresh, green pasture, whereas מִסְפּוֹא stresses the material that has been prepared or gathered in advance for feeding, typically in the form of dry fodder. Standard English translations use 'fodder' or 'provender,' but these terms in English may obscure the distinction between dried, stored feed and what is grazed fresh, which is clear in Hebrew. In the historical context of early Israelite and Judahite societies, the provision and gathering of such fodder were practical necessities associated with animal husbandry, especially during times when animals could not graze freely (e.g., winter, journeys). Over time, the essential meaning remains stable, rooted in animal provisioning practices rather than ritual or symbolic contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "fodder" 5 occurrences

"Fodder" is the most natural, concise English term that covers the primary semantic range (dried plant feed such as hay or straw, i.e., provender for animals). It is broader than the narrower "hay" and less formal/rare than "provender," matching typical usage and the P2 renderings while remaining consistent for all forms of H4554.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to collect; fodder; provender.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ספא (s-p-ʾ) — to gather, collect, store

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4554-01 מִסְפּ֖וֹא misepo HNcmsa fodder gathered fodder from fodder 4
H4554-02 וּ/מִסְפּוֹא֙ umisepo HC/Ncmsa and fodder/provender gathered fodder and fodder 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4554-01 Genesis 24:25 מִסְפּ֖וֹא misepo HNcmsa fodder gathered fodder from fodder
H4554-02 Genesis 24:32 וּ/מִסְפּוֹא֙ umisepo HC/Ncmsa and fodder/provender gathered fodder and fodder
H4554-01 Genesis 42:27 מִסְפּ֛וֹא misepo HNcmsa fodder gathered fodder from fodder
H4554-01 Genesis 43:24 מִסְפּ֖וֹא misepo HNcmsa fodder gathered fodder fodder
H4554-01 Judges 19:19 מִסְפּוֹא֙ misepo HNcmsa provender gathered fodder from fodder
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